Re: The Gainesville Midland and Her Sister Short Lines

Chapter 15

The Gainesville Midland Railroad
(1936-1959)

The GM did start to make a comeback in the late 20's, but it did not stay
there and so, in 1936, was reorganized. The Gainesville Midland RailWAY was
bought by the Gainesville Midland RailROAD for $127,000.
The 1936 PSC report had much information is found that presents a snap
shot of the railroad. It was reported that G. J. Baldwin owned 5140 of 5216 shares
(98.5%) of the GM even though the railroad's owner George Johnson Baldwin
(1856-1927) had died about 9 years earlier.
The GM had 72 miles of track with an estimated value of $1.4 million. It
was defined as a Class II railroad.
The GM reported an operating ratio of 92.69% and employed 93 people.
Additional information about the railroad is as follows:

section mainline other total
industrial
Gainesville - Fowler Jct. 40.00 0.82 7.02 47.84 miles
Belmont - Monroe 32.00 0.00 3.06 35.06 miles
Fowler Jct. - Athens (SAL) 2.00 0.00 0.00 2.00 miles
grand total 84.90 miles

start buy sold end remarks
locomotive 5 1 2 4
box 0 3 0 3 40 ton capacity
flat 5 0 0 5 30 tons
caboose 2 0 0 2
coach 2 0 2 0
combine 4 0 0 4 12 seats
service 3 0 0 3
rail bus 3 0 0 3 12 seats

140 grade crossings
1 interlocking with Southern RR
1 gate with Georgia RR

rail 55 pound 33 miles
56 pound 11 miles
60 pound 4 miles
65 pound 24 miles

New track:
90 feet of track added to serve Bell Fuel Company east of Athens Street in
Gainesville.
430 feet of track added to serve Barnes Feed Store and Y. H. Moore Coal
yard in Gainesville.

1936 commodity breakdown as reported to the Public Service
Commission

Commodity Group (annual) car tons tons per car
(sorted alphabetically) loads
agricultural implements 8 120 15
asphalt (natural by-product or petroleum) 7 302 43.14
automobile (passenger) 65 384 5.91
automobiles & autotrucks 1 10 10
bagging - burlap, gunny and jute 1 30 30
barley & rye 1 6 6
beans and peas dried 4 84 21
beverages 26 361 13.88
bituminous coal 593 28584 48.20
box - crate and cooperage materials 3 65 21.66
brick 200 6891 34.45
brick & building tile 20 577 28.85
building paper & roofing materials 26 582 22.38
building woodwork 5 81 16.2
canned food 5 95 19
cast iron pipe and fittings 1 21 21
cement 117 3119 26.65
cheese 2 26 13
coke 1 23 23
copper, brass and bronze 1 20 20
cotton bales 409 4795 11.72
cotton cloth and fabric 157 1868 11.89
cotton - linters, noils and regins 84 943 11.22
cotton meal & cake 176 3733 21.21
cotton seed 46 866 18.82
cottonseed oil 3 101 33.66
explosives 1 20 20
fertilizer 297 6877 23.15
flour, wheat 296 4325 14.61
fresh meets 2 23 11.5
furnace slag 3 147 49
furniture other than metal 4 24 6
glass - bottles & jars 42 344 8.19
glass - flat 1 21 21
gravel and sand 14 552 39.42
horses, mules, ponies and asses 5 76 15.2
ice 1 15 15
iron & steel - nails and wire 19 444 23.36
iron & steel pipe and fittings 6 127 21.16
iron & steel rated 5th class 37 889 24.02
iron & steel rated 6th class 2 25 12.5
lime 42 762 18.14
lube oils and grease 4 64 16
lumber - shingles and lath 264 5838 22.11
machinery & boilers 78 933 11.96
manufacturing & misc. 100 1884 18.84
mill products 44 521 11.84
oats 7 90 12.85
packing house products, edible 14 181 12.92
paints in oils and varnishes 2 23 11.5
petroleum - refined & gasoline 548 15485 28.25
phosphate rock, crude 4 23 5.75
pig iron 2 57 28.5
plaster (stucco or wall) 24 547 22.79
posts - poles and pilings 119 3593 30.19
potatoes other than sweet 7 127 18.14
poultry, live 1 7 7
products of agriculture 41 768 18.73
products of mines 112 6351 56.70
railroad ties 20 579 28.95
salt 25 707 28.28
scrap iron & scrap steel 40 2092 52.3
sewer pipe and drain tile 3 53 17.66
stone - broken, gravel or crushed 185 9869 53.34
stone finished 5 164 32.8
sugar - beet or cane 57 1456 25.54
unknown 170 1543 9.07
vehicles - horse drawn and parts 1 10 10
vehicles - traction & parts 2 25 12.5
veneer and built up wood 3 60 20

grand totals 4616 121,408
26.3

Commodity Group car % of cumulative
(sorted by car loads) loads total total
bituminous coal 593 12.8 12.8
petroleum - refined & gasoline 548 11.8 24.7
cotton bales 409 8.8 33.5
fertilizer 297 6.4 40.0
flour, wheat 296 6.4 46.4
lumber - shingles and lath 264 5.7 52.1
brick 200 4.3 56.4
stone - broken, gravel, or crushed 185 4.0 60.4
cotton meal & cake 176 3.8 64.2

Commodity Group car % of cumulative
(sorted by tonnage) loads total total
bituminous coal 28584 23.6 23.6
petroleum - refined & gasoline 15485 12.7 36.4
stone - broken, gravel, or crushed 9869 8.1 44.5
brick 6891 5.6 50.2
fertilizer 6877 5.6 55.9
products of mines 6351 5.2 61.1
lumber - shingles and lath 5838 4.8 66.0

As can be seen, the two largest commodities in terms of either
tonnage or car loadings are coal and refined petroleum.

INSERT gm1936.jpg HERE

Gainesville Midland Timetable from the 1936 Official Guide of
the Railways.

The 1937 report mentioned that 2 locomotives had been sold and
that two had been purchase. Additionally, the GM employed 118
people.

INSERT 1938orer.jpg HERE

Roster information from the 1938 Official Railway Equipment
Register.

In 1937 the Gainesville Midland Railroad received permission to
issue $4,140 in stock and apply for a $98,805 reconstruction loan
(February 20, 1937 Railway Age). The December 25 issue reported
that the GM wanted to issue $125,000 in 4% 1st mortgage bonds as
collateral for a $78,000 loan.
In 1938, the GM replaced all steam passenger trains with rail
busses (43). Railway Age (August 17, 1938) reported that the second
loan was approved and the bonds were issued with a maturation date of
January 1, 1978 (44).
The reported operating ratio for 1938 was 97.89%. The GM had
one combine and three rail buses and had added 810 feet of new track
to serve Southern Guano Company, Winder.
There were two PSC reports for 1939. The first PSC report was
for January 1, 1939 thru March 10, 1939 and was by the estate of
George Johnson Baldwin. It reported the operating ratio was 107.47%
and that a new 300 foot spur track had been added to serve state
highway at Gainesville.
The second PSC report for 1939 covered the period from March
10, 1939 thru December 31, 1939. The new owner was Forrest
Greene with 3890 of 4140 outstanding shares (94%).
Forrest Greene reported that one caboose had been rebuilt. The
trackage totals were the same as for the 1936 snap shot thereby not
reflecting any new trackage for industries. Forest Greene also owned
both the Georgia Car & Locomotive Company and the Greene County
Railroad.

INSERT gm1938.jpg HERE

Gainesville Midland Timetable from the 1938 Official Guide of
the Railways.

The changes to the GM rolling stock from 1939 through 1943
were:

1939 start buy sold end remarks
flat 5 0 1 4 30 tons
caboose 2 1 0 3
rail bus 3 3 2 4 12 seats

1941 start buy sold end remarks
locomotive 4 1 1 4
flat 4 0 2 2 30 tons
combine 4 0 1 3 12 seats
rail bus 4 0 1 3 12 seats

1942 start buy sold end remarks
locomotive 4 1 0 5
rail bus 3 1 0 4 12 seats

1943 start buy sold end remarks
locomotive 5 1 1 5
combine 4 1 0 5 12 seats

In the March 20, 1943 issue of Railway Age magazine, the GM
and SAL had petitioned the ICC in four ways; 1) for joint usage of the
Athens Terminal Company, 2) joint leasage of the ATC, and 3) and 4)
were separate leasage of the ATC. In the May 8 issue, it was reported
that they were allowed to jointly lease the ATC. They would receive
$200,000 in ATC bonds which were extended with 3% interest
beginning on January 1, 1943 until the termination of the agreement.
The 1944 PSC report showed one locomotive was sold and one
was purchased. Evidence of Forrest Greene's push to upgrade the
railroad is shown by the replacement of existing rail with heavier rail.

relay rail on mainline
85 pound 1,027 feet of rail
65 pound 7,237 feet of rail
relay rail on sidings
70 pound 2,304 feet of rail
65 pound 1,241 feet of rail
56 pound 1,920 feet of rail
New track
65 pound 517 feet of rail
56 pound 1,440 feet of rail

PSC statistics for 1945 and 1946 include:

1945
section mainline other total
Gainesville - Fowler Jct. 40.00 8.13 48.13 miles
Belmont - Monroe 32.00 3.06 35.06 miles
Fowler Jct. - Athens (SAL) 2.00 0.00 2.00 miles
grand total 85.19 miles

start buy sold end remarks
locomotive 5 1 1 5
combine 5 0 1 4 12 seats

1946
0.12 miles of side tracks added

start buy sold end remarks
locomotive 5 1 1 5
caboose 3 2 1 4
service 3 1 3 1

Financially, WWII brought varying results with earnings. For the
first 11 years of the lines existence, the road stuck to its old marginally
profitable habits:

1936 ($9,051) 1942 $13,039
1937 ( 4,920) 1943 (18,679)
1938 (21,326) 1944 10,016
1939 - 1945 ( 292)
1940 - 1946 (25,752) (45)
1941 ( 2,640)

On July 6, 1946, the line petitioned to abandon the Monroe
branch. The trackage rights the GM had from Monroe to Social Circle
over the Monroe Railroad was included in the petition.
It was reported on January 18, 1947 that permission was granted
with the provision that the branch would be sold to anyone who would
offer to buy it unless the offered price was below salvage value. The
offer had to be made prior to 40 days after the certificate was issued for
abandonment. There were protests saying that since there were four
other rail lines serving Athens it should be the Athens line to go. If the
Monroe abandonment was permitted there would be several
communities without rail service(46).
The ICC issued the certificate to the GM dated May 7, 1947.
The ICC later extended the expiration date from June 16 to June 30.
The Monroe branch was removed early in 1948 (47).
After the war, passenger traffic fell off so drastically that 6 months
after V-J day all passenger service was abandoned. The Brill gas busses
were then sold to Cuba(48).
Things now looked up for the little line. Its operating ratios were
in the upper 70's and lower 80's and it started to pay its own way.

1947 $ 20,712 87.41% 1953 75.71%
1948 (85,806) 105.47 1954 81.77
1949 48,659 77.45 1955 79.98
1950 41,679 - 1956 83.45
1951 22,785 81.16 1957 79.57
1952 24,978(49) 79.68 1958 82.28
1959 82.33 (50)

In 1947 the GM purchase its first Decapod 2-10-0. It turned out
to be quite successful as attributed to the fact that they only purchased
decapods for road power after this. The 2-8-0's were destined for yard
service and disposal.
The 1947 PSC report included the purchase of one flat car for
$302, one 2-10-0 locomotive for $5339 with 49,500 pounds of
tractive effort and one weed burner for $813.
The Belmont to Monroe branch abandonment was covered by
ICC docket 15374 and constituted 32.122 miles of track. This left
46.76 miles of track owned and 2.00 miles of track leased.
With the abandonment of passenger service, 4 combines and 4
railbuses were retired. Changes in motive power, in addition to the
decapod (2-10-0) being purchased, was the sale of one locomotive.
In 1948, the GM reported to the PSC that one flat car had been
purchased for $513. Also, one passenger coach had been purchased
for $1,056 and converted to work coach.
The changes to the equipment quantities were:

start buy sold end remarks
locomotive 6 1 1 6
box 3 0 0 3 40 ton capacity
flat 4 0 0 4 30 tons
caboose 4 0 0 4
service 1 1 0 2

2 locomotives with stokers 5 locomotives superheated

The railroad's track consisted of 33.37 miles of 55 pound rail, 4.00
miles of 50 pound rail and one mile of 65 pound rail.
One note of interest in the report was "Freight train cars are
not interchangeable with other lines. For private use only."
It appears that the financial problems were both the Monroe
branch and the passenger service. Probably the reason that it lost
money in 1948 was the scrapping of the Monroe branch.
The steady replacement of rail continued to show in the 1949
PSC report. The track consisted of 0.297 miles of 40 pound rail, 4.762
miles of 50 pound rail, 35.839 miles of 55 pound rail, 4.203 miles of 60
pound rail and 3.918 miles of 65 pound rail.

INSERT gm1950.jpg HERE

Gainesville Midland Timetable from the 1950 Official Guide of the
Railways.

No box cars showed up in the 1951 report. "box cars reported
in previous returns are not interchangeable and are used only for
storage etc of respondent"

1951 start buy sold end remarks
locomotive 7 2 2 7
flat 4 0 1 3 30 tons
caboose 4 3 0 7
2 locomotives with stokers 5 locomotives superheated

INSERT gm1951.jpg HERE

Gainesville Midland Timetable from the 1951 Official Guide of the
Railways.

In 1952, the GM sold one locomotive leaving a stable of six.
In 1953 with the purchase of 2 locomotives, the GM was getting
a more modern fleet of steam locomotives with more efficient options.
Four locomotives had mechanical stokers and seven were superheated.
The track in 1954 consisted of 15.252 miles of track 75 pound rail,
4.012 miles of track 65 pound rail, 4.203 miles of track 60 pound rail
and 16.595 miles of track 55 pound rail. Additionally, four cabooses
were sold and one tank car purchased.
The only changes in the 1955 PSC report that were of note is the
purchase of three special service 40 ton box cars for $2275 and the
scrapping of one caboose leaving only 307 and 308 on the roster.
In 1956, the PSC again changed the report format. It may have
been an attempt to reduce paperwork. It was less than one-fifth the size
of the 1955 report. Other than tracking rolling stock quantities and
general rail size, the reports become little more than financial statements
covering major stock holders, outstanding bonds, credits, debits, liens,
and commodity breakdowns. (the 1955 report has over 100 pages, the
1956 report has about 20 pages).
In the 1956 PSC reports, one locomotive was sold and two were
purchased.
In 1958, the first signs of attempts to consolidate with a larger
system showed up. It was in the form of a letter to the SAL, with whom
the GM did business. The letter listed the right-of-way between
Gainesville, New Holland, and Fowler Junction and the existing
equipment on the line. This roster included two 2-8-0's, five 2-10-0's, 1
tank car, 3 box cars, 2 flat cars, 2 cabooses, and 1 camp car.
The GM interchanged with the SAL in Athens. The SAL and
GM had other business relations also. An example is in 1954, the GM
gave the SAL $25,000 cash and a $85,000 promissory note for
$110,000 in track materials(51). In addition, SAL had expressed interest
in the GM as early as 1927.
Although the GM interchanged with Southern Railroad in
Gainesville, the main reason for the Gainesville Midland's existence was
to provide competition to Southern via Athens and the SAL.

I took the following photos in 1976 for the original Gainesville
Midland term paper. Unfortunately I have lost the caption sheet saying
where they were taken.

INSERT 1976_1f bw.jpg HERE

In 1976, I located this former Gainesville Midland fill between Belmont and
Monroe. Notice that in the distance the fill has been removed. The friend (I think
it is Bill Nelson) standing in the photo was about 5' 9". It gives you an idea of the
size of the fill.

INSERT gm_01a bw.jpg HERE

This photo was taken from the top of the same fill. In April, 2005 I
drove from Monroe to I-85 near Hoschton. I could not relocate this fill.

INSERT 1976_3b bw.jpg HERE

This is another section of the GM. If I recall correctly, this is the grade
on the north side of the Apalachee River. Although the woods were too
dense for a photo from my old instamatic camera, there was a pier of
the former trestle submerged in the river itself.

INSERT gm_01b bw.jpg HERE

The building beyond the trees on the left backs up to the old railroad
grade.

INSERT gm_02c bw.jpg HERE

This is a concrete pier from a Gainesville Midland bridge. This section
of grade (Belmont to Monroe) was originally built in 1883 by the
Gainesville Jefferson & Southern as narrow gauge.

INSERT gm_02d bw.jpg HERE

Here are the remains of another GM bridge between Belmont and
Monroe in 1976.

INSERT re76_7d bw.jpg HERE

These last two 1976 photos are from unknown locations.

INSERT re76_8b bw.jpg HERE

Chapter 16

Gainesville Midland All Time Standard
Gauge Locomotive Roster

These records are complete as possible although many records have been lost or
misplaced

Updated 9-17-2001 - thanks David Price
Updated 12-23-2001 - thanks Bob Whitaker

# type builder date c/n history
built
? 2-8-0 Baldwin 8-1893 13634 Please see GJ&S roster
for details and
questions. This was a narrow gauge
locomotive.
8 4-6-0 Rogers 8-1895 5050 renumbered to GM
#101. See GM
#101.

Number 32 is a strange machine. There are several histories that could
be written for this locomotive. According to the ICC inventory of 1917
and the SE&I records, this is the correct history:
32 4-4-0 Rogers 1898 - 16x24 cylinders
68" drivers
total light weight 43 Ton
bought second hand 1906.
listed in 1917 ICC inventory
Georgia RR #32
SI&E #2291 [1906]
Gainesville Midland #32 [1906],
on line [1916]
disposition unknown
considered a passenger locomotive
However, according to GC&L records and Steam Locomotives and
History of the Georgia Railroad and West Point Route (Prince 1962),
this is the correct history:
32 4-4-0 Rogers 1888 - 16x24 cylinders
68" or 62" drivers
total light weight 43 Ton
Georgia RR #32
GC&L #116 [5-25-1910] Shipped
under steam
Gainesville Midland #32 [1910],
on line [1916]
disposition unknown
The only Rogers 4-4-0 with 16x24 cylinders and 68" drivers I was able
to locate was scrapped in 1915 by NYNH&H having never traveled to
Georgia. I was not able to locate and Rogers 16x24 cylinders and 62"
drivers in the records. Additionally, there is no record of the Georgia
Railroad purchasing a Rogers locomotive in either 1888 or 1898.
According to Prince, there was only one Georgia RR #32 during this
time.

INSERT gm 32 gainesville 27 september 1916 schlachter tap.jpg
HERE

GM #32 at Gainesville on September 27, 1916. Photo by Schlachter.
From the Collection of Donald Hensley Jr.

# type builder date c/n history
built
33 4-4-0 Cooke 1894 - 16x24 cylinders
total light weight 50 Ton
listed in 1917 ICC inventory
Eugene A. Shaffer #1, Rosman, NC
SI&E #824 []
GM #33, [10-20-13] $4400
considered a passenger locomotive
34 4-4-0 Rogers 1888 - Bought [Sept. 1, 1906] Retired
[1919]
Number 34 may be some information from number 32.
1st 100 4-6-0 Baldwin 4-1906 27925 19x24 cylinders
56" drivers
Gainesville Midland #100 [Diverted by

# type builder date c/n history
built
builder]
New Mexico Midland Railway #100
1920 sold to Holly Sugar Co, Swink,
Colorado, #100
scrapped
might never have had GM lettering -
locomotive size the same as for
Baldwin 28877
2nd 100 4-6-0 Baldwin 8-1906 28877 19x24 cylinders
56" drivers
total light weight 79 Ton
listed in 1917 ICC inventory
Only GM steam locomotive bought
new, received September 1, 1906
for $12,927.00
On roster 1932.
Probably sold 1941.

INSERT GM 100 Builders tap.jpg HERE

GM #100 Baldwin builder's photo 1906. From the Collection of
Donald Hensley Jr.

1st 101 4-6-0 Rogers 8-1896 5050 18x24 cylinders

48" drivers
Wagontop boiler, straight stack, coal
fired.
total light 70 Ton
Bought second hand 1907.
listed in 1917 ICC inventory
Atlanta & West Point for Western
Railway of Alabama #19
WRofA #8 [1907]
# type builder date c/n history
built
GC&L #19 [?]
GM #8 [9-1907]
Renumbered GM #101 [by 1917]
SI&E #1862 [?]
Maryland & Delaware Coast
[11-14-1923]
WESTFIELD Railroad. #1, Westfield,
IL [11-14-24] $7000
Old SI&E #1857 in trade for $6000 -
see SI&E #1897
SI&E #1948 [?]
2nd 101 2-8-0 Baldwin - - This was probably the
one of the two Baldwin 2-8-0's listed as operating in 1916. This was
probably a second #101 and not the renumbered 4-6-0 #8. I have seen
a photograph of #101 appearing to be a 2-8-0. Records show 101 was
a #4-6-0. I can only surmise that there were two number #101s.
102 2-8-0 Baldwin 11-1904 24835 19x24 cylinders
Louisiana & North West #11
GM #102 [1905]
SI&E #1861 [1923]
Fountain-Campbell Lumber CO #4
Ladysmith, WI [7-14-23]
Bissell Lumber Co., WI [3-8-1924]
Flambeau River Lumber Co.,
Ladysmith, WI [1927]
Roddis Lumber & Veneer Co., Park
Falls, WI [1936]
103 2-8-0 Baldwin 1892 ? 20x24 cylinders.
Prior owners unknown.
SI&E #845 []
GM #103 [12-18-13], $6500
Miranda Sugar #107 []

INSERT GM 103 as Miranda sugar 7 tap.jpg HERE

GM #103 as Miranda Sugar #7. From the Collection of Donald
Hensley Jr.

# type builder date c/n history
built
104 2-6-0 Baldwin 8-1896 15007 18x26 cylinders
60" drivers
Georgia Railroad #45
GM #104 [1916]
SI&E #2286 [1923]
105 ? ? ? ? all information found on this locomotive
give it the same builder's number as 1st #108
106 4-8-0 Brooks 10-1901 4014 20x26 cylinders
55" drivers
Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh #240
SI&E #1777 [12-1922]
GM #106 [7-11-23]
SI&E [8-31-37]
107 4-8-0 Brooks 8-1900 3593 20x26 cylinders
55" drivers
BR&P #236
SI&E #1778 [12-1922]
Donahoo Construction Co. #12
[1-1923]
SI&E #2166 [8-31-36] (repossessed by
SI&E )
GM #107 [1900]
J. T. Knight & Sons Co. [8-1936]

# type builder date c/n history
built
1st 108 4-8-0 Brooks 11-1898 3080 20x26 cylinders
55" drivers
Allegheny & Western #202
BR&P #202 []
SI&E #1678 [1921]
GM #108, [7-11-23]
SI&E #2229 Returned and scrapped

INSERT gm 108 Atanta 11 july 1923 se&i 2229 tap.jpg HERE

GM 1st #108. Atlanta. July 11, 1923. SE&I 2229. From the
Collection of Donald Hensley Jr.

2nd 108 4-8-0 Brooks 8-1900 3590 20x26 cylinders
55" drivers
Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh #233
SI&E #1855 [1923]
Unknown buyer [1923]

SE&I #2235, [2-1928]
GM
#108 [10-1929]

SI&E [8-31-37] returned

INSERT 108 1932 taplines.jpg HERE

GM 2nd #108. 1932. From the Collection of Donald Hensley Jr.

# type builder date c/n
history
built
109 2-8-0 Brooks 7-1903 27797
bought October 1935, sold 8-31-36,
may not have been used since the engine needed $3-4,000 work to
replace flues when purchased. This comment is from the 1935 PSC
report.
51"
drivers

Buffalo & Susquehanna #119

Wellsville & Buffalo #119 [12-1915]

Pittsburgh & West Virginia

#119 [1917]

SI&E #2032 [circa 1925]

G&NW #60 [1925]
GM
#109 [1936]
110 2-8-0 Baldwin 10-1907 32054
20X28 cylinders
57"
drivers

Central of Georgia #1219

CofG #219 [1925]
GM
#110 [2-28-38]

INSERT gm 110 gainesville tap.jpg HERE

GM #110. Gainesville, GA. Date unknown. From the Collection of
Donald Hensley Jr.

INSERT GM 110 tap.jpg HERE

GM #110. Location and date unknown. From the Collection of Donald
Hensley Jr.

# type builder date c/n
history
built
111 2-8-0 Baldwin 10-1907 32015
20X28 cylinders
57"
drivers

CofG #1217

CofG #217 [1925]
GM
#111 [2-28-38]
sold
[1946]

INSERT marsh 05.jpg HERE

Gainesville Midland #111 in Gainesville, Georgia. June 13, 1939. Photo
by Tad Gay. From the collection of C. K. Marsh Jr.

112 2-8-0 Baldwin 11-1906 29506
20X28 cylinders
57"
drivers

CofG #1214

CofG #214 [1925]
GM
#112 [6-1936]

INSERT gm 112 Gainesville tap.jpg HERE

GM #112. Gainesville, GA. Date unknown. From the Collection of
Donald Hensley Jr.

INSERT GM 112 tap.jpg HERE

GM #112. Gainesville, GA. date unknown. From the Collection of
Donald Hensley Jr.

# type builder date c/n
history
built
113 2-8-0 Baldwin 10-1907 32055
20X28 cylinders
57"
drivers

CofG #1220, CofG #220 [1925]
GM
#113 [12-1935]

Georgia Car & Locomotive (GC&L)

#787 [?]

Cape Fear Railways, Fort Bragg, SC,

$6000.00, [5-21-1941].

INSERT marsh 09.jpg HERE

GM #113. Gainesville, GA.1940. From the Collection of C. K. Marsh,
Jr.
# type builder date c/n
history
built
114 2-8-0 Baldwin 11-1906 29386
20X28 cylinders
57"
drivers

CofG #1212

CofG #212 [1925]

Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay #210

[10-26-1931]

Mississippi Export Railroad #36
[1936]
GM
#114 [1942(?)]

GC&L #828 [?]
Lone
Star Steel Co, Texas $8500.00

[8-27-43]
115 2-8-0 Baldwin 7-1904 24392
20X28 cylinders
57"
drivers

CofG #1050

CofG #150 [1925]

GC&L #798 [?]
GM
#115 [2-7-1942] $2250.00

GC&L #833 [1-12-1944]

West Kentucky Coal Co, Earlington,

KY $7500.00 [1-12-44] Sent

from Gainesville, GA to Sturgis,

KY Mine #2 [1-18-44]
116 2-8-0 Baldwin 10-1907 32013
20X28 cylinders
57"
drivers

CofG #1215

CofG #215 [1925]
GM
#116 [1943]
given
to Jefferson, Georgia [1959]

for display.

INSERT gm 116 gainesville 15 july 1951 tap.jpg HERE

GM #116. Gainesville, GA. July 15, 1951. From the Collection of
Donald Hensley Jr.

INSERT gm 116 gainesville 1 august 1956 tap.jpg HERE

GM #116. Gainesville, GA. August 1, 1956. From the Collection of
Donald Hensley Jr.

INSERT re76_4c bw.jpg HERE

GM #116 on display at Jefferson, GA in 1976. Photo by author.

# type builder date c/n
history
built
117 2-8-0 Baldwin 9-1904 24648
20X28 cylinders
57"
drivers

CofG #1057

CofG #157 [1925]
GM
#117 [12-1943]
118 2-8-0 Baldwin 10-1907 32016
20X28 cylinders
57"
drivers

CofG #1218

CofG #218 [1925]
GM
#118 [3-1945]
119 2-8-0 Baldwin 11-1906 29264
20X28 cylinders
57"
drivers

CofG #1201

CofG #201 [1925]
GM
#119 [3-1946]

INSERT marsh 07.jpg HERE

GM #119. Gainesville, GA.1951. Photo by W. J. Husa, Jr. From the
collection of P&K Enterprises.

# type builder date c/n
history
built
201 2-10-0 Baldwin 2-1918 47956
Russian Decapod (see note 2).

25x28 cylinders
52"
drivers
USA
1150
New
Orleans Great Northern #92

[11-1922]
Gulf
Mobile & Northern #92 [1934]
Gulf
Mobile & Ohio #92 [1940]
GM
#201 [1947]
sold
[1952]
202 2-10-0 Richmond
3-1918 58874
originally 60" gauge - converted at

factory before delivery.

Russian Decapod.

25x28 cylinders
52"
drivers
USA
#1060

Southern #8017 [?]
Erie
#2482 [?]

Alabama, Tennessee, & Northern#

482 [11-1942]

GC&L #881 [8-8-47] for $3500.00

shipped from York, AL to

Gainesville, GA [?]

leased to GM #202 [8-12-1947]

returned [1952]

INSERT marsh 06.jpg HERE

Russian decapod GM #202. Gainesville, GA. May 11, 1948. From the
Collection of C. K. Marsh, Jr.

# type builder date c/n
history
built
203 2-10-0 Baldwin 1-1928 60342 56"
drivers

AT&N #402
GM
#203 [1948]
Given to Athens, Georgia for display. In 1961, #203 was acquired by
the Atlanta Chapter of the NRHS and moved to Atlanta for storage. It
was later leased to Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. It has since
been returned to Atlanta Chapter NRHS. This engine double headed
with #301 on September 19, 1959 as both the Atlanta Chapter's first
steam trip and GM's last steam train.
On 8-11-2001, #203 did need some maintenance but overall still
looked good. One interesting item I had not noticed before is that the
tender has a stoker feed screw and the fire box does not.
I visited #203 at the SERM in October, 2004 to get lettering location
for the restoration of #209. #203 was looking very sad.

INSERT GM 203 X tap.jpg HERE

GM #203 Gainesville, GA August 26, 1959 Photo by Allen. From the
Collection of Donald Hensley Jr.

INSERT gm 203 TVRM 7 october 1989 ed bowers tap.jpg
HERE

GM #203 Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Chattanooga, TN.
October 7, 1989. Photo by Ed Bowers. From the Collection of Donald
Hensley Jr.

# type builder date c/n
history
built
204 2-10-0 Richmond
1918 58823
originally 60" gauge - converted at

factory before delivery.

Russian Decapod.

25x28 cylinders
52"
drivers
USA
#1009
SAL
#2009 [?]
SAL
#508 [1921]
GM
#204 [1949]
sold
for scrap [1957]

INSERT gm 204 gainesville 15 july 1951tap.jpg HERE

GM #204 Gainesville, GA July 15, 1951. From the Collection of
Donald Hensley Jr.

# type builder date c/n
history
built
205 2-10-0 Richmond
1918 58855
originally 60" gauge - converted at

factory before delivery.

Russian Decapod.

25x28 cylinders, 52" drivers
USA
#1041
SAL
#2041 [?]
SAL
#518 [1921]

Macon Dublin & Savannah #518

[12-1949]
GM
#205 [1952]
sold
for scrap[1957]

INSERT gm 205 tap.jpg HERE

GM #205 with train. From the Collection of Donald Hensley Jr.

# type builder date c/n
history
built
206 2-10-0 Brooks 1918 58902
originally 60" gauge - converted at

factory before delivery.

Russian Decapod.

25x28 cylinders
52"
drivers
USA
#1088

Detroit Toledo & Ironton #310 [?]
SAL
#544 [1935]

MD&S #544 [12-31-1949]
GM
#206 [1951]
State
of Georgia [1959]

Atlanta Chapter NRHS.
When 203 was returned from the TVRM to the Atlanta Chapter, the
206 was sold to the North Carolina Transportation Museum. It has
been cosmetically restored as SAL 544.

INSERT GM 206 tap.jpg HERE

GM #206. From the Collection of Donald Hensley Jr.

INSERT re76_2b bw.jpg HERE

GM #206 in 1976 at the Southeastern Railroad Museum. Photo by
Author.

# type builder date c/n
history
built
207 2-10-0 Baldwin 3-1924 57664 56"
drivers

Georgia Florida & Alabama #401
SAL
#524 [1928]
GM
#207 [4-29-53]

derailed and overturned [10-54] -

returned to service

scrapped [1959]

INSERT GM 207 tap.jpg HERE

GM #207. From the Collection of Donald Hensley Jr.

208 2-10-0 Baldwin 1930 61230
25x28 cylinders
56"
drivers
SAL
#530
GM
#208 [4-29-53]

displayed at Winder, Georgia [1959]
209 2-10-0 Baldwin 3-1930 61233
25x28 cylinders
56"
drivers
SAL
#533

Durham & Southern Railway, #203,
Durham - Dunn, NC

never operated by Durham &
Southern or re-lettered
I wondered if you were aware of GM209 ex-SAL533 being owned
by the Durham & Southern I have a photo of her parked in the
dead line in Apex with the other D&S decapods I also have a copy
of the final ICC inspection and it states it was being sold to the
GM. While she was at the D&S she was never renumbered it is
questioned if she ever ran on the D&S. Within months after she
was purchased by the D&S the D&S dieselized by buying 3 Baldwin
RS1200's. All the decapods were put into storage. The 533 being
good shape was the only one sold the other 4 decapods were sold
for scrap. Alan Ashworth 1-14-2004
GM
#209 [4-29-53]

Made last scheduled common carrier

steam move in Georgia on

6-10-1959

Gainesville, Georgia for display

[1959]

INSERT GM 209 tap.jpg HERE

GM #209. From the Collection of Donald Hensley Jr.

INSERT gm 209 Gainesville 19 July 1959 tap.jpg HERE

GM #209. July 19, 1959. Gainesville, Ga. From the Collection of
Donald Hensley Jr.

INSERT GM 209 with crew tap.jpg HERE

GM #209 with crew. Notice GM #301 in the back ground. From the
Collection of Donald Hensley Jr.


# type builder date c/n
history
built
301 2-8-0 Baldwin 6-1920 53315
21x28 cylinders
54"
drivers

Charlotte, Harbor & Northern #72
SAL
#930 [1929]
GM
#301 [3-1951]
displayed at Charlotte, NC. Was repainted to SAL 301 before going to
Charlotte.
Charlotte has since turned 301 into a piece of playground equipment by
torching off all items that kids can get hurt on (pipes, bolts, etc) and
adding hand rails to the running boards on the boiler and adding steps
and such.

INSERT gm 301 Gainesville 12 mar 1951 tap.jpg HERE

GM #301. March 12, 1951. Gainesville, Ga. From the Collection of
Donald Hensley Jr.

INSERT GM_301_BW.jpg HERE

GM #301. From the Collection of Charles B. Gillespie, M.D.

# type builder date c/n
history
built
? 4-6-0 Baltimore & Ohio's Mt. Clare Shops
1863 ?
19x26 cylinders

53«" drivers
A
wagon top, straight stack coal

burner.

Baltimore & Ohio 2nd #9

Baltimore & Ohio #272 []
new
boiler p1888]

GC&L #5 [1906]

Rented to Gainesville Midland

[1-1907]

rented to Hall-Parker Construction Co

#196 [?]

GC&L #196 [1-1-13]

unsellable

Scrapped [7-1915]
10 SD40 EMD 6-1966 31799 Only
diesel bought for GM. Bought

new by SCL for GM.
GM
#10

Seaboard System #8300 [1983]

CSXT #8300 [1986]
# type builder date c/n
history
built

CSXT #4600 []

retired in 2001 and used for parts for

other SD40s


NOTES:

1) Numbers 116, 203, 206, 207, 208, 209, and 301 were the only
engines left on the roster when the Seaboard Air Line bought the
GM on June 22, 1959. These locomotives were on a roster given to
the SAL that was dated May 31, 1958. Of these, only the 207 was
scrapped, I speculate that she was used for parts for the other
engines and was in no condition to display without a large
expenditure.

2) RUSSIAN DECAPODS: These engines were ordered by Czarist
Russia for their 5 foot gauge lines. The order was partially built
(about 200 locomotives left to be shipped in an order size of about
1000+) when the Russia Revolution occurred and the US banned all
trade. The builders regauged the engines to 4 foot 8« inches
(standard gauge), completed the order, and hoped to sell them
domestically. As the GM engine histories seem to imply, they were
initially purchased by the US government for the military for use
during WWI. They later sold as surplus to railroads around the US

This table was created from GC&L records from Allen Stanley and
"The Gainesville Midland - The Railroad Seaboard Bought for Chicken
Feed", Lines South (4th quarter 2003) article by Robert H. Hanson
Railcars of the Gainesville Midland

# type builder built c/n history
? Model Brill before ? 8-wheel
55 1935 Gainesville Midland Railway [pre-
1935]
GC&L #770 [?]
Chicago & Illinois Midland $ 4,500.00
[3-28-40]
Sent from Gainesville, GA to
Taylorville,
IL on flat car.
? Model Edwards 4-1934 #184 Virginia & Carolina Southern #304 []
#20 Gainesville Midland [?]
new Cummins diesel installed [1-23-40]
GC&L #792 [?]
Chesapeake Western, Harrisonburg,
WV
$5000.00 [12-24-41]
Shipped from Gainesville, GA [3-3-
42]
? ? ? ? ? Clinchfield #75 [?]
GC&L #793 [?]
shipped on own wheels from
Spartanburg, SC to
Gainesville, GA
GM [1-6-42]
? Model Brill ? ? IGN #536 [?] See chart below on IGN.
55 Gainesville Midland [?]
GC&L 813 [?]
St. Marys RR #100, St. Marys, GA
$2715.00 [6-29-42] Shipped on car
33 ? Brill ? ? 8-wheel
photographed in Monroe about 1940
34 ? ? ? ? GC&L #877
to FC Caibarien a Moron, Havana,
Cuba.
$500.00 [7-21-47] Shipped from
Gainesville, GA to Belle Chasse, LA
for
shipment to Cuba. [9-5-47]
35 ? ? ? ? GC&L #878 to FC Caibarien a Moron.
$500.00 [7-21-47] Same shipment
data
as GM #34 [9-5-47]
36 ? ? ? ? GC&L #879 to FC Caibarien a Moron.
$500.00. [7-21-47] Same shipment
data
as GM #34 [9-5-47]
37 ? ? ? ? GC&L #880 to FC Caibarien a Moron.
$500.00. [7-21-47] Same shipment
data
as GM #34 [9-5-47]
500 501 According to Edmund Keilty in his book Interurbans
Without Wires Yellow never built any railcars but several of their
buses were converted by railroads for this use. The Cotton Belt
converted a Yellow Type W bus to an inspection car in 1932 and in
1933 converted two Type Z 2-50 buses to passenger motor cars. In
his book Short Line Doodlebug Keilty gives this information on the
two Gainesville Midland cars: #500 & 501, Yellow Truck & Coach
body, Yellow gas engine, 4 window bus body with 4-wheel leading
trucks. John A Taubeneck

INSERT marsh 03.jpg HERE

Gainesville Midland railbus #500 in Monroe, Georgia. 1933. From the collection of
C. K. Marsh Jr.

1959-1976 locomotive statistics:

number steam cylinder boiler tractive
tonnage
size (in.) pressure effort (lbs.)
(psi)
116 20 x 28 200 34,000 -
203 24 x 28 200 46,410 -
206 25 x 28 180 51,500 -
207 24 x 28 190 46,510 -
208 24 x 28 190 46,510 -
209 24 x 28 190 46,510 -
301 21 x 28 180 35,000 -
10 (SD40) - - - 1550 (2600) tons
SCL 500's - - - 1200 (1900) tons

All Russian Decapods would be similar to the 206.
The 10 was the only engine purchased new for the GM Railroad (by SAL). It is an
EMD (Electro Motive Division of General Motors) graduate from June of 1966.
An SD40 with construction number of 31799. Mr. Joe A. Glosson, trainmaster of
the GM in 1976 and employee of the GM before SAL take over, said that the
ruling grade was from Talmo to Belmont with a maximum grade of about 3.2% in a
continuous grade of about 5 miles. This limits the 10 to handling 1550 tons up
this grade. If the 10 doubles-the-hill, other factors limits her to 2600 tons.
When the GM needs more power, they lease an SCL locomotive. Quite
often this is an SCL 500 series locomotive although any locomotive on hand is
taken. The day I was there, the 10 had company of SCL 553 in the shop area and
later on I saw the 553 go out to do some local switching. This is why I put the
SCL 500's on the roster.
The basic locomotive roster was taken from Seaboard Air Line Steam
Boats, Locomotives, and History, written and published by Richard E. Prince in
1969. This was supplemented by "The Hot Box" published as a monthly news
letter by the Atlanta Chapter-NRHS, the September, 1974 issue; a copy of the
letter to the SAL listing the property of the GM on May 31, 1958; and an
interview with Mr. Joe A. Glosson of the GM Railroad in 1976.

Here are the International Great Northern Brill rail bus orders. There is
no record of IGN #536. There may have been a renumbering by the
IGN at one time. IGN may have purchased a used Brill or #536 is a
used equipment dealer's number.
order built road # weight length seating power remarks
plant
21910 1913 1001 17 tons 42' 8" 43 Midwest For Service
MT,
1002 68 hp gas model 55
21911 1913 1004 8 tons 34' 52 - Trailer for
above
unit(s), model 55T
21913 1923 1003 17 tons 42' 8" 43 Midwest For Service
MT,
68 hp gas model 55

As always, records with information do shine light on histories
mysteries. They also bring forth new mysteries. Rail busses 34-37 were
shipped off to Cuba in 1947.
What happened to rail bus #33?
Where did rail busses 33-37 come from?
There are four (4) rail busses that have no numbers. Two (2)
show where they came from and where they went to. What about the
other two? What were their numbers?
And what about 500 and 501? Did GM build them or have
them built? Where did they go to?